Today’s Featured Article (from Nov. 19), Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed Afghans – report is from Reuters but could really be from almost any major publication (see here, here, and here). Be sure to head over to the Homepage and check out other candidates for our Featured Article. The other two articles that come in for honorable mention are: Helmand: Two Years Later – War Room, a recent account of the very troubled province, and U.N. Pulling Americans From Northern Yemen Ahead of Houthi Terrorist Designation – Foreign Policy, which highlights the complexities of a ‘simple’ terrorist designation. Both are definitely worth your time (if you have a subscription to FP). In addition, I just want to throw this on out there for the headline alone: A Chinese County Aims to Curb Dog Walking by Threatening to Kill the Dog – The New York Times, I don’t think I need to say anything else! Once again, there are so many great stories out there, so, if you haven’t already done so, head over to the front page to check out some others and keep tabs on what is going on around the world in regards to National Security and World Events. And if you have suggestions for other sources that I should be checking daily, drop a link or comment below!
Featured Article (s):
Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed Afghans – report – Reuters
How a ‘Distorted Culture’ Led Elite Australian Troops to Kill 39 Helpless Afghans – The New York Times
Australia inquiry finds troops ‘unlawfully killed’ dozens of Afghans – DW
Report finds Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghans – AP
And just for good measure:
Atrocities Pile Up for CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitary Forces – Foreign Policy
Why This Is Important
Every time you put on the uniform; you are putting on the face of your nation. As a representative of our Nation, you must present yourself accordingly as your actions could have ramifications far beyond your mission or deployment. If it feels like murder, it probably is. Don’t be ‘that’ guy or gal.
This post caused a lot of anxiety trying to write, it is actually a post I started on November 19th and am just getting back to finish it. There is something about prosecuting war crimes on our own people that is very unsettling for different reasons. First, even though the topic of the article is the Australian Special Forces this could just as easily been one of ‘us’ and let us not forget, they are our brothers and sisters in arms, they are fighting in Afghanistan because we asked them too. Second, there is a part of me that is angered by prosecutions like these because so much is being asked of the men and women that we are sending off to fight that I don’t think it is fair to Monday Morning quarterback all of their decisions. They have an incredibly difficult job and walk around with the knowledge that today could be their last day on Earth, all hopes and dreams could end today. Mentally, there is a fine line that is walked there that is not easily balanced. Lastly, this particular report highlights events that are so egregious that these soldiers deserve to meet some form of punishment, I’m just not sure what that needs to be. With that hand-wringing disclaimer, what did they do? From Reuters:
Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan, with senior commandos reportedly forcing junior soldiers to kill defenceless captives in order to “blood” them for combat, a four year investigation found.
I cannot even imagine a scenario when I was overseas and having someone order me to kill a defenseless captive. However, I can certainly imagine wanting to. Giving into those forces of survival and rage while placing all of the emotion of whatever s@*t that you have seen or experienced onto that individual sitting in front of you where they become an avatar of your entire existence there… I can see that. But doing it, no way. Ordering a junior soldier to do this is even more despicable. I cannot imagine the pressure they felt. The report continues:
Australia said on Thursday that 19 current and former soldiers will be referred for potential criminal prosecution for allegedly killing the 39 Afghan locals.
Detailing the findings of a long-awaited inquiry into the conduct of special forces personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, Australia’s General Angus John Campbell said there was credible information of 39 unlawful killings by 25 Australian Special Forces personnel in 23 separate incidents.
All of those kills were outside the “heat of battle”, Campbell said…
For more details on what the Australian report found, DW has a good summary, here is the relevant part (emphasis mine):
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- Evidence that 25 Australian special forces personnel were involved in the killing of prisoners, farmers and other civilians.
- Credible information regarding 23 incidents of unlawful killing that left 39 people dead.
- The illegal killings began in 2009 with the majority taking place in 2012 and 2013.
- Incidences included new patrol members shooting prisoners in order to achieve their first kill, and then planting false evidence.
- None of the alleged killings took place in “the heat of battle” or in circumstances where the perpetrator’s intentions were “unclear, confused or mistaken.”
- Every individual under investigation was fully aware of the “law of armed conflict and the rule of engagement under which they operated.”
- Some of those allegedly involved in the incidents were still serving in the Australian military.
- The report recommended that 19 individuals be investigated for possible criminal charges, including murder.
The most troubling part of the entire story revolves around ‘blooding’ and the practice of getting their first kill. For that we return Reuters:
“There is credible information that junior soldiers were required by their patrol commanders to shoot a prisoner, in order to achieve the soldier’s first kill, in a practice that was known as ‘blooding’,” the report read.
That is wrong on so many levels and some have identified it as a ‘cultural problem.’ Remember, this investigation spanned just over 10 years. It would be interesting to see if this is the result of ‘ripples’ from a few or truly a cultural problem with a bunch of unrelated links to different people. Honestly, I have a hard time believing its cultural, it is too heinous.
This sort of incident does so much to damage reputations of entire units and undermines so much of the mission. The stain of these actions will not easily be washed out. I wonder how many terrorists these actions created….